Several famous actors, actresses, athletes, and musicians have furthered their education by earning Master’s Degrees. Some of these celebrities earned Masters of Fine Arts while others pursued scientific degrees. This list of famous people with Master’s Degrees has been loosely ranked by fame and popularity.
Who is the most famous person with a Masters Degree? James Franco tops our list. The Spring Breakers actor earned his M.F.A. from Columbia University in New York. He is also studying for a Ph.D. in English at Yale University. Ashley Judd earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government in 2010.
Adult film star Ron Jeremy has a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Queens College in New York. Singer Art Garfunkel earned a M.A. in mathematics from Columbia University in 1967.
Mayim Bialik
The Big Bang Theory actress Mayim Bialik attended UCLA, where she earned a Bachelors Degree and a Doctorate in neuroscience.
David Duchovny
“The X-Files ” actor David Duchovny received a Master’s of Arts in Fine Literature from Yale University. He began work on a Ph.D., but never finished it.
Sigourney Weaver
Alien actress Sigourney Weaver earned a Master of Fine Arts from Yale University in 1974.
Dolph Lundgren
The Punisher actor Dolph Lundgren earned a Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Sydney in 1982. He was later awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to MIT.
Lupita Nyong’o
12 Years a Slave actress & Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o has a Master’s Degree in acting from the Yale School of Drama.
Leonard Nimoy
Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy has a M.A. in Education from Antioch College. He also has several honorary degrees.
Angela Bassett
Actress Angela Bassett earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama in 1983.
Rowan Atkinson
Mr. Bean actor Rowan Atkinson earned a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from The Queen’s College, Oxford.
Christy Turlington Burns
Supermodel Christy Turlington earned a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
Brian May
Queen guitarist Brian May has a Ph.D. in astrophysics from Imperial College.
Art Garfunkel
Singer Art Garfunkel earned a M.A. in mathematics from Columbia University in 1967.
Ashley Judd
Ashley Judd earned a Master’s Degree in public administration from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government in 2010.
Dexter Holland
The Offspring singer Dexter Holland has a M.S. in Molecular Biology from the University of Southern California.
Bill Cosby
Comedian Bill Cosby earned a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts in 1972. He was also awarded honorary degrees from several prestigious universities, though many have been revoked in light of allegations that he sexually assaulted dozens of women dating back to the 1960s.
Shaquille O’Neal
NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal earned his Master’s Degree online from the University of Phoenix in 2005.
Ron Jeremy
Adult film star Ron Jeremy has a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Queens College in New York.
Peter Weller
Robocop actor Peter Weller earned his Master’s Degree in Roman and Renaissance Art at Syracuse University in 2004.
Hill Harper
Actor Hill Harper earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
Greg Graffin
Bad Religion musician Greg Graffin has a Master’s Degree in geology from UCLA.
